Bell vs Rogers vs Telus: What's the Difference?

By Kevin Kearney

Last updated 30 November 2023

Text Who's the Best Top Tier Mobile Carrier over roadsigns pointing to Bell, Rogers and Telus

Contents

In this guide:

Bell vs. Rogers vs. Telus: How Do They Compare?
Network Coverage and Reliability
Customer Service
Get the Most Value
Regional Carriers: Freedom Mobile, Videotron, SaskTel, and More
Which Carrier is Best?
FAQs

Bell, Rogers, and Telus are the country’s three largest wireless carriers, providing service to over 97% of Canadians. Telus, in our opinion, is the best carrier in Canada, thanks to its large 5G network, excellent customer service, and competitive pricing.

But there’s more to the market than just the Big Three. Canada is also home to several regional carriers that offer affordable plans and reliable coverage to select areas. There are also numerous flanker brands that provide cheap plans and cell phone deals.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know in order to choose the best carrier for you. Read on to learn the difference between Bell, Rogers, and Telus, and understand the best way to find a great plan.

Bell vs. Rogers vs. Telus: How Do They Compare?

Bell, Rogers, and Telus are the three nationwide telecommunications companies serving Canada with telephone, internet, cable television, and wireless service. Canadians often complain that the differences between Bell, Rogers, and Telus are nonexistent, with the carriers simply offering similar plans at similar rates.

All three offer premium services and, by extension, some of the most expensive cell phone plans in the country. Bell, Rogers, and Telus are independent networks that operate their own nationwide 4G and 5G cellular networks despite sharing towers.

You can check out the best cell phone plans in Canada or preview the most popular plans from the Big Three below.

#1	Bell	Bell Ultra 250GB Canada-International 250GB at 5G+ speeds 5G Network in selected areas with compatible devices Deal: Get FREE 1-year Perplexity Pro AI research tool + $0/mo. on smartwatch or tablet plan with this plan $95.00/mth (after $10/mo. credit with Autopay) View Plan	$95.00/mth (after $10/mo. credit with Autopay)	View Plan
#2	Telus	Telus Complete 175 5G+ Can-US 175GB at 5G+ speeds up to 2Gbps 5G Network in selected areas with compatible devices Deal: Get $10/mo. off when you activate on this plan and enroll with pre-authorized payments $85.00/mth (after $10/mo. credit) View Plan	$85.00/mth (after $10/mo. credit)	View Plan
#3	Rogers	Rogers Essentials Plan 100GB at speeds up to 250Mbps 5G Network in selected areas with compatible devices Deal: Get Free Citytv+ for 3 months + Free 12 months of Uber One on this plan $60.00/mth (after Auto-Pay discount) View Plan	$60.00/mth (after Auto-Pay discount)	View Plan

Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc.

In 2021, Rogers Communications made a bid to buy Shaw Communications, a regional carrier serving Alberta and British Columbia operating on the Freedom Mobile network. The Competition Bureau argued the sale would limit competition, raising already high prices for consumers. In an attempt to silence its critics, Rogers agreed to sell Shaw’s Freedom Mobile unit to Videotron, a regional carrier for Quebec. As of April 2023, the merger was finalised with government approval.

Bell vs. Rogers vs. Telus: Network Coverage and Reliability

While Bell, Rogers, and Telus are all nationwide carriers, each carrier has subtle differences in what they offer and where they operate.

In Canada, where you live dictates your cellular service. 5G is still mostly limited to urban centres while 3G is the fastest you’ll find in some of the remote areas of the country. Telus’ 5G and 4G network is the largest of the Big Three and reaches the most Canadians, though Bell’s network is not far behind.

The Big Three's network coverage

Carrier	5G coverage	4G LTE coverage	Total network coverage
Bell	70% of Canadians	99% of Canadians	36% of the map
Rogers	70% of Canadians	97% of Canadians	28% of the map
Telus	70% of Canadians	99% of Canadians	37% of the map

If you’d like to see a coverage map of each carrier’s network, you can check out our guide to wireless coverage in Canada or select one of the Big Three in the coverage map below.

Click to Activate Interactive Map

Coverage information is collected from carriers and other third party sources. This is approximate coverage only and does not include indoor coverage. Actual speed and performance depends on your location and device. Local conditions and things like natural and artificial physical features of an area all affect your reception. Coverage © Mosaik

Bell vs. Rogers vs. Telus: Customer Service

Bell, Rogers, and Telus offer customer service and support over the phone, on social media, and through virtual assistants on their websites. In 2022, Telus was rated Canada’s Most Respected Mobile Service Provider by DART Insight and Communications with Koodo and Fido rounding out the top three.

Bell vs. Rogers vs. Telus: Get the Most Value

The best way to get the most value from the Big Three is to seek out their bundles, cell phone deals, and flanker brands.

Bundling services

The Big Three offer bundles of their internet, cable, streaming services at discounted rates. Bell, Rogers, and Telus all provide bundling options that will make watching sports, TV, and movies a breeze.

Unfortunately, none of the three carriers allow you to bundle wireless coverage. Still, if you’re already paying for multiple services or looking to add one to your household, you might want to start by seeing what Bell, Rogers, and Telus offer for internet connectivity.

#1	Bell	Bell Gigabit Fibe 1.5 Fibre 1500/940 Mbps Unlimited Data $125/mo for 2 years then $135.00/month. Price may increase during subscription. for 2 years then $135.00/month. Price may increase during subscription. View Plan	$125/mo for 2 years then $135.00/month. Price may increase during subscription. for 2 years then $135.00/month. Price may increase during subscription.	View Plan
#2	Telus	Telus PureFibre 250 Mbps Fibre 250/250 Mbps Unlimited Data Contract (24 mths) $85/mo Available in select locations Available in select locations View Plan	$85/mo Available in select locations Available in select locations	View Plan
#3	Rogers	Rogers Starter 100 Internet Fibre 100/100 Mbps Unlimited Data $105/mo Prices subject to rate increase. + $110 Upfront Prices subject to rate increase. View Plan	$105/mo Prices subject to rate increase. + $110 Upfront Prices subject to rate increase.	View Plan

Cell phone deals

Although Bell, Rogers, and Telus are considered premium carriers known for their more expensive plans, they’re also known for some of the best cell phone deals in Canada. We’ve compiled guides to the best cell phone deals from Bell, Rogers, and Telus, so you can score hot prices on the latest smartphones, like the iPhone 14, Google Pixel 7, and Samsung Galaxy S23.

Find some of the most popular cell phone deals available from the Big Three below.

Apple

iPhone 16e 128GB

6.1 inch display
Rear Camera: 48MP
Front Camera: 12MP

Choose

14 Plans from $20/mth + $934.48 Upfront

Choose

14 Plans from $20/mth + $934.48 Upfront

Samsung

Galaxy S26+ 5G 512GB

6.7 inch display
Rear Cameras: 50MP, 10MP, 12MP
Front Camera: 12MP

Choose

41 Plans from $20/mth + $2,210 Upfront

Choose

41 Plans from $20/mth + $2,210 Upfront

Samsung

Galaxy S26 Ultra 5G 256GB

6.9 inch display
Rear Cameras: 200MP, 50MP, 50MP, 10MP
Front Camera: 12MP

Choose

40 Plans from $20/mth + $2,310 Upfront

Choose

40 Plans from $20/mth + $2,310 Upfront

Samsung

Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G 256GB

6.9 inch display
Rear Cameras: 200MP, 50MP, 10MP, 50MP
Front Camera: 12MP

Choose

39 Plans from $20/mth + $2,330 Upfront

Choose

39 Plans from $20/mth + $2,330 Upfront

Samsung

Galaxy S26 Ultra 5G 512GB

6.9 inch display
Rear Cameras: 200MP, 50MP, 50MP, 10MP
Front Camera: 12MP

Choose

40 Plans from $20/mth + $2,640 Upfront

Choose

40 Plans from $20/mth + $2,640 Upfront

Samsung

Galaxy S26 Ultra 5G 1TB

6.9 inch display
Rear Cameras: 200MP, 50MP, 50MP, 10MP
Front Camera: 12MP

Choose

25 Plans from $20/mth + $3,160 Upfront

Choose

25 Plans from $20/mth + $3,160 Upfront

Google

Pixel 10a 128GB

6.3 inch display
Rear Cameras: 48MP, 13MP
Front Camera: 13MP

Choose

36 Plans from $20/mth + $810 Upfront

Choose

36 Plans from $20/mth + $810 Upfront

Samsung

Galaxy S26 5G 256GB

6.3 inch display
Rear Cameras: 50MP, 10MP, 12MP
Front Camera: 12MP

Choose

36 Plans from $25/mth + $1,510 Upfront

Choose

36 Plans from $25/mth + $1,510 Upfront

Samsung

Galaxy S26 5G 512GB

6.3 inch display
Rear Cameras: 50MP, 12MP, 10MP
Front Camera: 12MP

Choose

35 Plans from $25/mth + $1,850 Upfront

Choose

35 Plans from $25/mth + $1,850 Upfront

#10

Samsung

Galaxy S26+ 5G 256GB

6.7 inch display
Rear Cameras: 50MP, 10MP, 12MP
Front Camera: 12MP

Choose

35 Plans from $25/mth + $1,850 Upfront

Choose

35 Plans from $25/mth + $1,850 Upfront

Flanker brands

Canada is home to several flanker brands, or smaller carriers owned by Bell, Rogers, and Telus and operating on their respective networks, much like the popular Mobile Virtual Network Operators (or MVNOs). Flanker brands’ plans are cheaper, offering less data and slower speeds than the Big Three. Despite those downsides, flanker brands’ affordability, prepaid options, and excellent coverage make for fantastic alternatives to Bell, Rogers, and Telus.

Signing up with one of these brands can save you a bundle.

Bell owns Virgin Mobile and Lucky Mobile
Rogers Wireless owns Fido and Chatr
Telus Mobility owns Koodo and Public Mobile

Interested in trying out an alternative? Find some of the most popular plans from flanker brands below.

#1	Fido	Fido $49 Data, Talk & Text CA-US Plan with 60GB 60GB at 5G speeds up to 1Gbps Rogers 5G Network Deal: Receive 20GB/mo. bonus data with new activations $49.00/mth (after Auto-pay discount) View Plan	$49.00/mth (after Auto-pay discount)	View Plan
#2	Virgin Plus (previously Virgin Mobile)	Virgin Plus (previously Virgin Mobile) $49 CA-US Plan with 80GB Data and Unlimited Minutes 80GB at 5G speeds up to 1Gbps Bell 5G Network $49.00/mth (includes $10/mo. Autopay) View Plan	$49.00/mth (includes $10/mo. Autopay)	View Plan
#3	Koodo Mobile	Koodo Mobile $149 Prepaid 360 Day Plan 30GB at 4G speed up to 100Mbps Telus 4G LTE Network $149.00 Per 360 Day Top-up + $10 Upfront View Plan	$149.00 Per 360 Day Top-up + $10 Upfront	View Plan
#4	Lucky Mobile	Lucky Mobile $25 Unlimited Canada-wide Calling Plan 25GB data Bell 4G Network Deal: Get 5GB Auto top-up $25.00 Per 1 Month Top-up + $10 Upfront View Plan	$25.00 Per 1 Month Top-up + $10 Upfront	View Plan
#5	Chatr Wireless	Chatr Wireless $159 Nationwide Talk, Text & 4G Data plan 40GB data Rogers 4G Network $159.00 Per 1 Year Top-up + $10 Upfront View Plan	$159.00 Per 1 Year Top-up + $10 Upfront	View Plan

Regional Carriers: Freedom Mobile, Videotron, SaskTel, and More

In limited parts of Canada, regional carriers operate independent cellular networks that span one portion of the country. They often partner with Bell, Rogers, or Telus to provide their customers nationwide service. Prices are often cheaper yet come with limitations, mainly that you must live within the carrier’s primary coverage area to subscribe.

Here are some of the most popular regional carriers and where you can find them:

Freedom Mobile: Urban areas of Ontario, Alberta, and B.C.
Shaw Mobile: Urban areas of Alberta and B.C.
Videotron: Quebec
Fizz: Quebec
SaskTel: Saskatchewan

#1	Freedom Mobile	Freedom Mobile Prepaid By The Year 40GB + Nationwide Talk & Text plan 40GB at 5G+ speeds up to 900Mbps 5G Network Deal: Receive 50GB Roam Beyond data + $5/mo. off with Student Deal + 1000/mo. long-distance minutes for 24 months + $5/mo. off with new phone $159.00 Per 1 Year Top-up (after $5/mo credit + Digital Discount) + $10 Upfront View Plan	$159.00 Per 1 Year Top-up (after $5/mo credit + Digital Discount) + $10 Upfront	View Plan
#2	Eastlink	Eastlink $50 Rollover Data 80GB Plan 80GB at 5G speeds 5G Network in selected areas with compatible devices Deal: Online Only: Get $80 Welcome Credit + FREE Shipping when you purchase this plan $50.00/mth (includes $10/mo. pre-authorized payment discount) + $80 Upfront View Plan	$50.00/mth (includes $10/mo. pre-authorized payment discount) + $80 Upfront	View Plan
#3	Fizz	Fizz Unlimited Canada Minutes & Text Messaging + 40GB Data Plan 40GB data Videotron 4G LTE Network $35.00/mth + $5 Upfront View Plan	$35.00/mth + $5 Upfront	View Plan

Bell vs. Rogers vs. Telus: Which Carrier is Best?

Bell, Rogers, and Telus all offer nationwide coverage, 5G service, and a comprehensive suite of services. Rogers is by far the best when it comes to 5G coverage, but Bell and Telus have the best network coverage footprint in Canada.

Overall, thanks to its coverage, customer service, and diversity of plans, Telus is the best carrier of the Big Three.

Check out our guide to the best Telus cell phone plans, the best Telus prepaid plans, or browse the carrier’s most popular plans below.

#1	Telus	Telus Nationwide Talk, Text & Data 35 3GB data 4G LTE Network Deal: Get 2GB data when you sign-up with auto-payment options and use the promo code AUTO2GB $35.00 Per 30 Day Top-up + $15 Upfront View Plan	$35.00 Per 30 Day Top-up + $15 Upfront	View Plan
#2	Telus	Telus Nationwide Talk, Text & Data 45 15GB data 4G LTE Network Deal: Get a bonus 10GB data when you sign-up with auto-payment options and use the promo code AUTO10GB $45.00 Per 30 Day Top-up + $15 Upfront View Plan	$45.00 Per 30 Day Top-up + $15 Upfront	View Plan
#3	Telus	Telus Select 100 5G+ 100GB at 5G+ speeds up to 1Gbps 5G Network in selected areas with compatible devices Deal: Get $10/mo. off when you activate on this plan and enroll with pre-authorized payments $55.00/mth (after $10/mo. credit) View Plan	$55.00/mth (after $10/mo. credit)	View Plan
#4	Telus	Telus Select 100 5G+ 100GB at 5G+ speeds up to 1Gbps 5G Network in selected areas with compatible devices Contract (24 mths) Deal: Get $10/mo. off when you activate on this plan and enroll with pre-authorized payments $55.00/mth (after $10/mo. credit) View Plan	$55.00/mth (after $10/mo. credit)	View Plan
#5	Telus	Telus Nationwide Talk, Text & Data 55 20GB data 4G LTE Network Deal: Get a bonus 10GB data when you sign-up with auto-payment options and use the promo code AUTO10GB $55.00 Per 30 Day Top-up + $15 Upfront View Plan	$55.00 Per 30 Day Top-up + $15 Upfront	View Plan

Bell vs. Rogers vs. Telus: FAQs

Are Rogers and Bell the same?

No, Rogers and Bell are not the same. Rogers is owned by Rogers Communications Inc. and Bell is owned by Bell Canada Inc. Both carriers operate on their own independent networks.

Is Telus owned by Rogers?

No, Telus is not owned by Rogers. Telus is owned by the Telus Corporation and Rogers is owned by Rogers Communications Inc.

Does Telus use Rogers or Bell towers?

Yes, Telus and Bell share some of the same cell towers. That’s part of the reason why both carriers have been able to build wireless networks that reach 99% of Canadians.

Which carriers offer 5G in Canada?

Bell, Rogers, and Telus all offer 5G in Canada, with 5G networks that reach 70% of Canadians. A number of regional carriers also offer 5G connectivity. Videotron offers it to residents of Montreal, while Shaw and SaskTel offer it in select areas of Saskatchewan.

Are Bell, Rogers, and Telus an oligopoly?

No, Bell, Rogers, and Telus are not technically an oligopoly. While it’s been suggested that Bell, Rogers and Telus are colluding with one another to keep cell phone plan rates high for Canadians, there’s no evidence to prove collusion.

The Government of Canada, however, agreed with its citizens, stating in 2019 that prices were too high and began working to address consumers’ concerns. In 2021, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) established a policy to encourage more Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). In 2022, the CRTC announced they’d reduced wireless plans by 25%.

The success of these efforts is debatable. The CRTC’s requirements for MVNOs prohibit real competitors from entering Canada’s market and critics have highlighted that the reduction of cell phone plan costs is not as impressive as the Government has made it out to be.

Can I bundle services with my mobile phone?

No, none of the Big Three allow you to bundle services with your mobile phone. They do, however, offer bundles of their internet, cable, and streaming services, driving down your overall monthly payment.

Who is the best carrier in Canada?

Telus is the best carrier in Canada, thanks to its coverage, customer service, and diversity of plans. While Bell and Rogers also offer nationwide coverage, 5G service, and a comprehensive suite of services, Telus' plans are the overall best for Canadians.